05/29/2026
TRANSFORMATION
On Saturday afternoon, we were at the shop for one of our baristas' grad parties.
Naturally, Addie wanted to drink black coffee. She ran in the side door to get her favorite drink and on her way back outside, she shut the door.
CRASH.
Standing on the patio, I pondered the bizarre noise coming from inside the shop. Being the good boss I am... I investigated.
The Connections Class sign that's been living on our side wall was now on the floor.
Along with everything else from our sugar table.
The screws had sheared completely in half. I didn't even know that was possible.
We joked with Addie that her Herculean strength was to blame.
But the truth?
Our hundred-year-old building. Perhaps you've noticed that NOTHING is level. Not the floors. Not the walls. There's only so much we can do.
The blank wall was taunting me.
I knew we couldn't hang the sign back up. I certainly didn't want to risk hurting someone. And transparently, hanging ANYTHING on that wall is risky.
Then Monday, I had the epiphany.
I asked Anna to paint the other half of the mural from the annex right on this wall.
It. Is. Perfect.
Not because it was the original plan.
Because it wasn't.
I don't know about you, but life lately has been extra special. And this mural feels like a pretty good example of reality.
Sometimes the out-of-pocket expense, unexpected detour, or broken plan brings something more beautiful than you imagined.
So might I encourage you this Friday, friends?
Embrace the broken.
All too often we spend so much energy trying to put things back the way they were.
The sign fell. Unexpected happens.
My first thought was how to fix it. But the better question turned out to be:
What if we're not supposed to?
Sometimes the thing that breaks isn't the end of the story.
Sometimes it's the beginning of a better one.
Happy Friday, friends.
